(We sell mostly artistic chocolates, ice creams, and some French pastries. Our most successful of the last ones are the macarons; those are made of almond paste and for commercial reasons are said to be without any gluten (“gluten free”). A man in his forties enters the shop orders eight of them.)

Me: “So, everything is 17.95.”

Customer: “What?! Why should I pay?!”

Me: “Well, sir, this is how it’s supposed to work. Our product costs 17.95 for eight; I can’t do otherwise.”

Customer: “But it was written it will be free!”

Me: “Where did you see that?”

Customer: “Here! Just look, it’s on the wall.”

(I look and realize the man is talking about the large sign where it is printed “Gluten Free.”)

Me: “Uh, no, sir. These are called macarons, not ‘glutens.’”

Customer: *leaves without buying anything*

(I was behind the register in the women’s clothing area of a department store. A woman walks up holding a blouse and, with an attitude, says:)

Customer: “This was on a rack with a sign that says it is 40% off. Is it 40% off?”

Me: “Let me see.”

(I take the blouse from her and scan the barcode on the tag.)

Me: *expecting her to be glad to hear the good news* “It says it’s 50% off.”

Customer: *annoyed* “But the sign says it’s 40% off.”

Me: “Well, the computer says it’s 50% off.”

(The customer throws the blouse on the counter next to the cash register, says angrily:)

Customer: “Well, I don’t want it, then!” *storms off*

Today I went to buy groceries at a health food store. Life has been difficult lately. There was fraud on my bank account and because of that, I was $200 overdrawn. I had been looking for work for a few months now; I had to leave my last job because management stole my tips and did not pay overtime.

So, here I was, with a $20 bill that was borrowed from a kind friend, trying to buy enough groceries for the week. As I explained to the cashier that I might not have enough for [item], I noticed a man in line at another register staring at me with a smile on his face. I am certain that I did not know him.

I was thankfully able to afford [item], but I did have to skip some purchases due to my limited budget. The strange man kept smiling at me and staring. I made the sign of the cross and say a quick prayer.

After paying, I sat down at one of the tables to drink a tea I had bought. The strange man approached me and I was a bit scared. He then handed me a ten dollar bill and said, “I hope this can help you.” I managed to thank him before he walked away. I also said, “I misunderstood your intentions towards me.”

And yes, I went back through the store to pick up a few additional items!

God bless you, Staring Stranger. I hope to one day pay for someone’s groceries as you have done for me.

(I’m eating out at a fairly fancy restaurant when a couple gets seated at the table behind me.)

Lady: *holding up her menu* “EXCUSE ME?”

Waitress: *who is standing right next to her* “Yes?”

Lady: “Your [dish containing chicken] is listed as being 17.99, but your [same dish with steak] is listed at 20.99. Why are they different?”

Waitress: “Because the first uses chicken, and the second uses steak.”

Lady: “Yes, but why are they different prices?”

Waitress: *sounding a bit confused* “Because the steak costs more than the chicken.”

Lady: “But why?!”

Waitress: *still sounding confused* “Because those are the prices the restaurant set?”

(At that, the lady let out a dramatically disgusted and prolonged huff, before snapping her menu shut, slamming it on the table, standing up, and walking off. After a moment, the man she was sitting with let out a long and tired sigh, stood up, picked up the bag the woman had left by the table, and followed her, while the waitress stood there looking lost.)

(We offer layaway and sometimes allow customers to have more than one at a time. This particular customer whom I recognize is paying off one layaway, paying on another, and starting a new one on a busy sale day, so the counter is surrounded by customers.)

Me: “So, you would like to pick up your coat, pay on your other layaway, and put these items into layaway?”

Customer: *furiously chomping on gum* “Yes.”

Me: “Okay, would you like to pay for those separately or all in one transaction?”

(I’d prefer to run a credit card once rather than three individual times.)

Customer: *drops a crumpled pile of cash on the counter that is not enough for the total*

Me: “Okay, how would you like me to do this?”

Customer: *condescendingly over her glasses* “Is it too complicated for you?”

Me: “…”